← Back to bernedoodle|Back to yorkshire terrier →

Bernedoodle vs Yorkshire Terrier: Which Suits Your Home?

Bernedoodle or Yorkshire Terrier? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Bernedoodle is the heavier at 20–90 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.

This is for someone already down to Bernedoodle and Yorkshire Terrier and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and exercise need, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Yorkshire Terrier rates 5/5 against 2/5. Breed history is left out; what follows is what you will actually live with.

Quick verdict

Between Bernedoodle and Yorkshire Terrier, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Yorkshire Terrier is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.

Choose bernedoodle if...

Choose Bernedoodle if this is your first dog, you do not want a standing grooming appointment and there are young children at home.

Choose yorkshire terrier if...

Choose Yorkshire Terrier if you are in a flat or a smaller home, shedding is a problem in your house and your walking routine is modest.

Head-to-head comparison

Feature	bernedoodle	yorkshire terrier	Winner
Size class	medium	small	Equal
Weight	20–90 lbs	4–7 lbs	Equal
Height	12–23 in	7–8 in	Equal
Lifespan	12–18 years	11–15 years	bernedoodle
Exercise need	High (4/5)	Low (2/5)	yorkshire terrier
Grooming need	High (4/5)	Very high (5/5)	bernedoodle
Shedding	Low (2/5)	Very low (1/5)	yorkshire terrier
Energy level	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Barking	Low (2/5)	High (4/5)	bernedoodle
Apartment suitability	Low (2/5)	Very high (5/5)	yorkshire terrier
Good for first-time owners	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	bernedoodle
Tolerates being alone	Low (2/5)	Low (2/5)	Equal
Trainability	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	bernedoodle
Good with kids	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	bernedoodle
Good with other dogs	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	bernedoodle
Friendly to strangers	High (4/5)	Low (2/5)	bernedoodle
Cost level	High (4/5)	High (4/5)	Equal
Coat	Wavy to curly, hypoallergenic	Long, silky, hypoallergenic	Equal
Origin	United States	England	Equal
Typical monthly cost	$120–$220	$100–$190	Equal
Typical first-year cost	$1,800–$3,200	$1,400–$2,900	Equal

Deep dive

Size and build

This is a mismatch on paper. The Bernedoodle's range tops out at 90 lbs and 23 inches; the Yorkshire Terrier tops out at 7 lbs and 8 inches. Even at the Bernedoodle's smallest -- a mini or tiny cross around 20 lbs -- it still dwarfs a full-grown Yorkie. If you're choosing based on how much dog you physically want to manage, this comparison answers itself fast.

Energy and exercise

The Bernedoodle needs real daily exercise -- a 4/5 rating on both energy and exercise need -- while the Yorkshire Terrier gets by on much less, rated 2/5 for exercise and 3/5 for energy. A Yorkie's activity needs fit into short indoor bursts and a walk or two; a Bernedoodle needs sustained outdoor time to avoid getting destructive.

Grooming and shedding

Both breeds need serious coat maintenance, but the Yorkie edges out the Bernedoodle at 5/5 versus 4/5 -- its long, silky coat mats easily without regular brushing. Shedding tells the opposite story: the Yorkie barely sheds at all (1/5) while the Bernedoodle sheds lightly (2/5). Both are marketed as hypoallergenic-leaning coats, but neither is grooming-free.

Apartment living, noise and time alone

The Yorkshire Terrier is built for small spaces -- a 5/5 apartment suitability score -- while the Bernedoodle sits at just 2/5. Barking runs the other direction: the Yorkie is rated 4/5 for barking against the Bernedoodle's 2/5, so a quiet building might tolerate the bigger dog better than the small one. Neither breed handles being left alone well, both scoring 2/5 there.

Training and owner experience

The Bernedoodle is the far easier dog to train, rated 5/5 versus the Yorkie's 3/5, and it also scores higher for first-time owners (4/5 against 3/5). Yorkies have a reputation for a stubborn streak that shows up in that trainability number -- patience and consistency matter more with this breed than with the Bernedoodle.

Kids, other dogs and visitors

Every household-fit measure favors the Bernedoodle by a wide margin: 5/5 with kids and other dogs versus the Yorkie's 3/5 on both, and 4/5 with strangers against 2/5. A 4-7 lb dog is also simply more fragile around small children than a dog that can weigh 90 lbs, which the numbers don't capture but is worth factoring in directly.

Health and lifespan

The Bernedoodle's 12-18 year lifespan beats the Yorkie's 11-15, which is somewhat unusual since small breeds typically outlive large ones -- the Bernedoodle's poodle-cross genetics help here. The Yorkie's health list runs long: collapsing trachea, hypoglycemia, portosystemic shunt, and dental disease among ten total conditions, more than the Bernedoodle's already substantial list of ten.

Cost to keep

Both breeds land at the same 4/5 cost level, and their monthly ranges are close -- $120-220 for the Bernedoodle versus $100-190 for the Yorkie. First-year costs follow suit: $1,800-3,200 against $1,400-2,900. Don't assume the smaller dog is dramatically cheaper; grooming and vet costs close most of the gap.

Bernedoodle vs Yorkshire Terrier at a glance

Bernedoodle weighs 20–90 lbs and lives 12–18 years; Yorkshire Terrier weighs 4–7 lbs and lives 11–15 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, exercise need and barking and 4 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone and cost level, so those cannot decide it. The comparison marks an easier option only where one exists. Facts like weight and country of origin are not scored. Both dogs are rated from the same dataset, which is what makes the numbers comparable with each other even though any individual dog sits somewhere inside its breed's range.

Frequently asked questions

How different is the size, really?

Enormously. A Yorkshire Terrier tops out around 7 lbs; a standard Bernedoodle can reach 90. Even a mini Bernedoodle will likely outweigh a Yorkie several times over.

Which sheds less?

The Yorkie, at 1/5 versus the Bernedoodle's 2/5 -- both are low-shed, hypoallergenic-leaning coats, but the Yorkie's is close to the lowest shedding score on the scale.

Is either better suited to a first-time owner?

The Bernedoodle, rated 4/5 for first-time owners against the Yorkie's 3/5, largely on the strength of its 5/5 trainability score. Yorkies can be stubborn to train.

Which fits an apartment better?

The Yorkshire Terrier, rated 5/5 for apartment suitability against the Bernedoodle's 2/5. A 90 lb dog and a small unit rarely mix well.

How much should I budget monthly?

$120-220 for a Bernedoodle, $100-190 for a Yorkie -- closer than the size difference would suggest, both landing at a 4/5 cost level.

Do they share health concerns?

Not much overlap. The Yorkie's list is dominated by small-dog issues like collapsing trachea, hypoglycemia, and portosystemic shunt, while the Bernedoodle's includes bloat, Addison's disease, and joint problems more typical of larger dogs.

Which barks more?

The Yorkie, rated 4/5 for barking against the Bernedoodle's 2/5 -- a common trait in small terrier breeds that can surprise first-time owners.

Quick answers

View more answers

Living

Which is the better choice overall?

It depends entirely on space and household -- the Bernedoodle wins on trainability and sociability, the Yorkie wins on apartment living, and the size gap alone will decide it for most people.

Costs

What's the monthly cost gap?

Close -- $120-220 for the Bernedoodle versus $100-190 for the Yorkie, both rated a 4/5 on the cost scale.

Training

How much exercise does each need?

The Bernedoodle needs a 4/5 level of daily exercise; the Yorkie gets by on a 2/5, mostly short walks and indoor play.

Health

Which lives longer?

The Bernedoodle, at 12-18 years, slightly outlives the Yorkie's 11-15 year range.

Related DogBreedCompass guides

Bernedoodle breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Bernedoodle before deciding.
Yorkshire Terrier breed guide – The same for Yorkshire Terrier, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
Bernedoodle vs Goldendoodle – Goldendoodle is the closest breed to Bernedoodle on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
Yorkshire Terrier vs Brussels Griffon – Brussels Griffon sits closest to Yorkshire Terrier, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
What Bernedoodle costs to keep – Anyone weighing these two is usually also pricing them, and the cost pages carry city-level figures.
Yorkshire Terrier health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.

Related guides

List

Important reminder

Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.

Some links on this site are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and we only suggest products we believe are helpful for dog owners.

Find Your Perfect Breed

Match your lifestyle to the right dog.

Take quiz

Find your match

Not sure which breed is right for you? Take our 2-minute quiz to find out.

Take the quiz